3 replies to this topic

[AntsBrazil]

Hello, Today when feeding my 3 Pachycondyla queens I found 2 white mites inside the test tube of one of them.

Journal link to photos of the setup:

http://www.formicult...pdated-122716/ 

 

The dirt in the setup is not sterilized because this ants were my first ones and I didn't know that it was needed, until now I had no problems with it. It's hard to see the queens and the brood so I'm not sure if the mites are in the queens bodies. Should I manually transfer this queens into a more controlled setup?

Since there's no workers and small amount of brood I think that will be easier(and better) to manually transfer the queens rather than placing a lemon slice or something like that. 

OBS: I only found mites in one of the 3 setups. 

[antgenius123]

Hello, Today when feeding my 3 Pachycondyla queens I found 2 white mites inside the test tube of one of them.

Journal link to photos of the setup:

http://www.formicult...pdated-122716/ 

 

The dirt in the setup is not sterilized because this ants were my first ones and I didn't know that it was needed, until now I had no problems with it. It's hard to see the queens and the brood so I'm not sure if the mites are in the queens bodies. Should I manually transfer this queens into a more controlled setup?

Since there's no workers and small amount of brood I think that will be easier(and better) to manually transfer the queens rather than placing a lemon slice or something like that. 

OBS: I only found mites in one of the 3 setups. 

I would put a slice of lemon in the setup you have currently. If the problem proceeds and the mites are still there after a while then move your ants out  asap. Just keep in mind there are beneficial mites and harmful mites so it's better not to take the risk. Ant colonies can be wiped out in a week due to the dangerous mites. If you plan to move them just make sure you  put a lemon slice in the new setup so if the mites manage to enter the new setup the lemon will stop the mites from harming your ants. This method usually works.

 

 

P.S. In the future it's a good idea to keep anything to do with your colony clean especially things like soil, tree bark etc.

Edited by antgenius123, January 5 2017 - 4:23 AM.

[Serafine]

These are most likely just harmless ground mites that are everywhere in soil. You can relocate the ants if you want to be sure but PLEASE don't just add a lemon slice to the formicarium. Put it into the outworld or an extra chamber between the formicarium and the outworld. The ants themselves are strongly repelled by the lemon as well and need time to accommodate with it. If you put it too close to the nest they will just flee.

Edited by Serafine, January 5 2017 - 6:34 AM.

[antgenius123]

These are most likely just harmless ground mites that are everywhere in soil. You can relocate the ants if you want to be sure but PLEASE don't just add a lemon slice to the formicarium. Put it into the outworld or an extra chamber between the formicarium and the outworld. The ants themselves are strongly repelled by the lemon as well and need time to accommodate with it. If you put it too close to the nest they will just flee.

Yep